Our Further Education Maths CPD Programme has been supporting teachers of GCSE Mathematics resit and Functional Skills Maths since 2022
In that time, over 150 different programmes have been delivered to over 1,000 teachers
The FE CPD Maths Programme offers extensive and varied professional development for teachers and leaders of GCSE Mathematics resit and Functional Skills Maths. Online and face-to-face courses enable participants to develop subject and pedagogical knowledge, and the CPD Menu provides bespoke support and guidance for colleges and maths departments.
In 2024-25, Sheffield Institute of Education Research and Knowledge Exchange at Sheffield Hallam University evaluated the FE CPD programme. Their report identified the many successes of the programme, both commending its reach and scale, and highlighting the individual stories of teachers and subject leaders.
Report summary
- Programme reach was exceeded – Participation targets for individuals, colleges, and learners were consistently met or surpassed.
- Design was effective and delivery was authentic – Sessions were high quality and context-tailored, delivered by a team with lived FE maths experience that participants recognised as relevant and credible.
- Collaboration with managers was crucial – Strong relationships with colleges reduced barriers and ensured the right participants engaged.
- Teacher outcomes were positive – Participants reported increased confidence, a wider range of teaching tools, and motivation to change practice.
- Professional identity increased – CPD contributed to a stronger sense of belonging within the FE maths teaching community.
- 86% of those surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that the programme increased their knowledge of how to teach maths.
- 75% of those surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that the programme increased their confidence in teaching maths.
- 96% of those surveyed said the CPD sessions they attended would have a positive impact on the teaching their learners received.
- 84% of those surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that the programme improved their skills in teaching maths.
- 90% of those surveyed said they were likely or very likely to recommend MEI post-16 maths CPD to a colleague.
What participants have said
This is the right approach for FE. It’s been tailored to FE. It’s been designed specifically with the resit learner in mind, and they are a very distinct cohort. I think it’s a really well-structured programme.
Manager for maths at large FE college
You can’t go wrong with any of those [delivery modes] because depending on what the needs of the team are, there is availability for it. That’s absolutely amazing.
If there wasn’t a topic I needed, they [the MEI maths specialists] would do a session just for my team. Even though they’ve got a package designed, MEI still will go out of their way.
It’s absolutely amazing just knowing that there is somebody there that I can message and say, have you got anybody on your team that could potentially come in two weeks and do this session?
Programme Manager for maths at large vocational college
It was really interesting to go along [to the MEI Conference] and hear different aspects of the mastery journey for our learners from primary school and secondary, all the way up to university professors.
It was eye opening to hear all those different aspects and different opinions from various teachers across the spectrum.
“[It was] probably the best conference that I’ve been to, and it was the most interesting and beautiful content delivery. Just the general atmosphere of the conference is really, really, really good.
Maths teacher and delegate at MEI Annual Conference 2024
Ready to get involved?
If you’re a teacher or leader of FE maths and want to know more about the professional development and support available, visit our Further Education Maths CPD Programme webpage. We would love to work with you and your college to develop effective teachers and confident learners.